About the Air Pollutant Watch List
Announcement
The TCEQ Proposes Removal of Two Pollutants from the Texas City APWL Area--Benzene and Hydrogen Sulfide
Benzene Monitoring Data Support APWL Delisting in Texas City
- Monitoring shows that annual average benzene concentrations are consistently below the TCEQ's screening level of 1.4 parts per billion (ppb).
- No adverse health effects would be expected if annual average concentrations remain below 1.4 ppb.
- Stationary monitoring data show that the annual average benzene concentrations have remained below 1.4 ppb for two consecutive years.
Hydrogen Sulfide Monitoring Data Support APWL Delisting in Texas City
- The TCEQ compares stationary, ambient hydrogen sulfide monitoring data to the 30-minute state regulatory standard of 0.08 parts per million (ppm).
- Stationary monitoring data demonstrate that exceedances of the standard have been infrequent, and monitored concentrations show a significant improvement.
- Data from BP's Logan Street and 31st Street monitors, TCEQ's Ball Park monitor, and the Texas City/La Marque Community Air Monitoring Network's 2nd Avenue monitor show no exceedances of the standard since April 2011.
- The number of days that these monitors show an exceedance of the standard have decreased since 2003.
TCEQ's Determinations
- Validated monitoring data show a decline in both benzene and hydrogen sulfide in the area to concentrations below levels of potential concern.
- The primary benzene and hydrogen sulfide sources in the Texas City APWL area have implemented significant equipment improvements, and certain companies continue to use monitoring data to identify elevated concentrations and mitigate emissions.
- Monitored concentrations can reasonably be expected to be maintained below levels of potential concern.
The full analysis of the benzene APWL delisting is provided: PDF
or DOC
The full analysis of the hydrogen sulfide APWL delisting is provided: PDF or DOC
The TCEQ will accept public comments on its proposed delistings. The comment period begins on March 11, 2013, and will end on April 26, 2013. You may email comments to the APWL coordinator or mail comments to:
Tara Capobianco
Air Pollutant Watch List Coordinator
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Air Permits Division
MC-163
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087
The TCEQ will hold a public meeting to answer questions and receive public comments on its proposed delistings on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wings of Heritage Room in the Nessler Center, located at 2010 5th Avenue North, Texas City.
The TCEQ will give a short presentation at 6:00 p.m. After a short question and answer session, the TCEQ will officially open the public meeting. The public meeting will be structured for the receipt of oral or written comments by interested persons. Individuals may present statements when called upon in order of registration. Open discussion within the audience will not occur during the public meeting; however, the TCEQ staff will be available to discuss the proposed delistings and answer any additional questions after the meeting. Persons who have special communication or other accommodation needs who are planning to attend the meeting should contact the Office of the Chief Clerk at (512) 239-3300 or 1-800-RELAY-TX (TDD) at least one week prior to the meeting.
Please contact Tara Capobianco for any questions regarding these proposed changes via email or at (512) 239-1117.
General Information
What is the Air Pollutant Watch List?
Each year the TCEQ collects an extensive amount of ambient air monitoring data and evaluates the potential for adverse short- and long-term health effects and odors. The Air Pollutant Watch List (APWL) is the TCEQ's program to address areas in Texas where monitoring data show persistent, elevated concentrations of air toxics. The TCEQ uses the APWL process to focus its resources, notify the public, engage stakeholders, and develop strategic actions to reduce emissions. One of the primary strategies for addressing APWL areas includes additional scrutiny for air permit applications that include a request to increase an APWL contaminant. The TCEQ will work with sources to encourage efforts to reduce emissions, may provide assistance to small businesses and local governments to identify strategies for reducing APWL contaminants, may increase monitoring for an APWL area, and may conduct focused investigations for companies located in an APWL area. The following diagram illustrates how the TCEQ uses the air permitting program, ambient air monitoring, and the APWL to ensure that ambient air toxic concentrations are at levels that are protective of public health and welfare.
The framework for the APWL program is outlined in the APWL protocol, which describes the process that the TCEQ will follow for all APWL issues, such as listing, remediating, and delisting APWL areas. The TCEQ may propose to remove an APWL area if ambient monitoring data shows a downward trend, information demonstrates that the improvement will be sustained, and the TCEQ determines that there is no longer a potential for adverse health effects. The TCEQ accepts public comments on all additions to and removals from the APWL.
APWL Resources
- Active APWL Areas
- APWL Successes
- APWL Protocol: PDF or DOC
- Response to Comments on APWL Protocol (February 2012)
- 2012 APWL Report
- 2009 APWL Report
What Air Pollutants are Monitored?
Texas monitors and evaluates ambient concentrations of air toxics, which are pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. The TCEQ obtains data on approximately 150 air toxics from stationary monitors and also from the deployment of mobile monitoring projects. The TCEQ monitors for volatile organic compounds (such as benzene), carbonyls (such as formaldehyde), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (such as naphthalene), and metals (such as nickel).
Use the Air Monitoring Site Information Table or Air Monitoring Site Information Map to see the location of monitors in a particular area.
How is Ambient Monitoring Data Evaluated?
The TCEQ established ambient state regulatory standards for two air toxics--sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. For all other monitored air toxics, the TCEQ's Toxicology Division establishes pollutant-specific air quality guideline levels known as Air Monitoring Comparison Values (AMCVs) to protect human health and welfare. The TCEQ establishes APWL areas where ambient monitoring indicates persistent concentrations above state standards or AMCVs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also established ambient air quality standards for criteria pollutants. These standards are known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS, and each state must develop a State Implementation Plan, or SIP, to demonstrate how it will comply with and attain the NAAQS. The Texas SIP is the mechanism that the TCEQ uses for regulating criteria pollutants; the APWL is the mechanism that the TCEQ uses to reduce air toxic emissions and ensure that ambient concentrations of air toxics are below levels of concern.
What Level of Air Permit Review is Required?
The Modeling and Effects Review Applicability Technical Guidance Package (July 2009) provides more information about the level of modeling and health effects evaluation that may be required for New Source Review (NSR) permitting. In addition, the TCEQ is providing guidance to companies to better prepare applications for NSR permits and permits by rule. The purpose of the guidance is to increase transparency in the APWL process and to encourage companies to work with the TCEQ to address APWL concerns up front. The guidance does not replace the health effects evaluation of an NSR permit review, which may result in additional permit requirements or restrictions as determined on a case-by-case basis. The TCEQ encourages companies to schedule pre-application meetings to discuss projects that include an increase in an APWL contaminant and is also providing a checklist to help companies prepare for a pre-application meeting.
Air Permit Guidance: PDF or DOC
Pre-application Meeting Checklist: PDF or DOC
How to Get Involved
Recommend an Area be Added to or Removed from the APWL
You may recommend that specific pollutants and locations be evaluated for addition to or removal from the APWL by sending an email to the APWL Coordinator at APWL@tceq.texas.gov. Requests should include a description of the location, the pollutant of concern, any supporting information, and your contact information. The TCEQ carefully investigates every recommendation, and you may view past recommendations for addition to (or removal from) the APWL that were not adopted.
For assistance regarding environmental complaints, visit the TCEQ Complaints Reporting Web site.
Contact the TCEQ About the APWL
For further information, contact TCEQ's APWL Coordinator, Tara Capobianco, at (512) 239-1117 or via email at APWL@tceq.texas.gov.
Sign Up to Receive APWL Announcements
To receive free updates by email regarding the APWL, visit the TCEQ GovDelivery 
Web site and check the box for Air Pollutant Watch List under the Air Quality heading.
